SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY REACTION TO THE SOUTH EAST AND EAST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL AIR SERVICE STUDY

IN RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS OF THE SOUTH EAST AND EAST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL AIR SERVICE STUDY (SERAS) which have been announced today (Tuesday, 23 July 2002), Mike Gwilliam, Director of Planning and Transport for the South East England Regional Assembly, said:

"The South East's communications links and its role as the UK's international gateway have been key to this region's economic success. The challenge is now to find ways of sustaining that prosperity and increasing social inclusion while protecting and enhancing the region's quality of life and environment over the next 30 years. This is clearly an extremely important study, with long term implications for the region, and the Assembly will therefore want to give the study options full and careful consideration."

"In anticipation of the study publication, we have already established a task group chaired by Bob Wilkins, Director of Planning and Transport at the East Sussex County Council, which will be examining the findings of the study and their implications for the transport system in the South East. We have also appointed an experienced team of consultants- Roger Tym and Partners and W.S. Atkins - who will be assisting the task group. So as to move forward straight away the Task Group and consultants will be meeting this Friday for an initial consideration.

"The task group will formulate a recommended response which will go to the Assembly's Regional Committees for consideration in October and then to the full Assembly in November."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007